Wetting agent for mercerizing and a process for increasing the wetting power of mercerizing lyes



' Patented Jan. 30, 1945 WETTING AGENT FOR Manocnizmc ANIi A PROCESS FOR mcamsme THE we'r- TING rowan or MEROERIZING LYES Burkhard von Becker, Aussig, Elbe, Germany, assignor to Sherka Chemical Co., Inc., a corporation of New York No Drawing. Application December 13, 1940, se-

rial No. 369,984. 1939 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and useful wetting agent and more particularly to a wetting agent for mercerizing purposes which is capable of increasing the wetting power of mercerizing lyes, and a method of using the same in mercerizing.

Mercerization has, among others, the purpose of imparting a silky luster to vegetable fibers, especially to cotton. In order to obtain this effect the textile fabric or yarn is treated in stretched condition with strong lyes, especially with a solution of sodium hydroxide (spec. weight: 1.24-1.33=28-36 B.) and thereafter rinsed thoroughly. It is known to add to the lye, which without any addition wets the fabric or yarn only very slowly and irregularly, agents which are capable of considerably reducing the wetting time.

Such a wetting agent, in order to fulfill its purpose, must show the following properties:

(a) A high wetting'power,

In Germany December 14,

(1)) Stability in a solution of sodium hydroxide (especially at 28-32 B.), and

(0) Very little foaming.

I have found that the wetting power of mercerizing lyes can be essentially increased, by adding thereto isopropylated phenols, especially isopropyl phenol or isopropyl cresol, such as 1- methy1-3-isopropylphenol-(5), either alone or together with condensation products of aminoaryl sulfonic acids, aldehydes and phenols, such of phenols or cresols and 242% hydrogenated phenols as wetting agents in mercerisation.-. But in this known process theincrease of wetting power is caused by the addition of hydrogenated phenols only, while the phenol or cresol serves as an agent for facilitating solutionof the hydrogenated phenols, which otherwise are insoluble in the mercerisation lyes, said phenol or cresol possessing practically no wetting power. In contrast hereto, the mercerisation lyes with the addition of isopropyl 'phenol or -cresol, show an excellent wetting efect, as is demonstrated by the following comparative test:

According to this invention, for instance, twisted yarn or a dense fabric of raw-cotton is completely wetted within two seconds in a solution of sodium hydroxide of 30 to which 0.7 vol. of p-isopropylphenol is added, while, in contrast thereto, an addition of 1.4 vol.

of cresol or phenol itself does not show any wetting effect after seconds.

The new additions distinguish themselves over the already known agents inasmuch as they combine in themselves the following properties:

High and constant wetting and shrinking efiect.

Stability even on standing in open. air of the mercerisation lye for a longer period of time, If at all, very little foam formation, Clear solubility in the usual lye concentrations, No annoyance by offensive odors.

In contrast to the agents according to this invention the known additions show less ad vantageous effects, because one or several of the ,above mentioned properties are missing,

The following examples serve to'illustrate the invention, without, however, limiting the same to them.

Example 1 Ezamplle 2 To a mercerisation lye of 28 B., there is added 1' vol. (0.8 weight of a mixture of 67% of isothymol and 33% of the condensation product obtainable from butylphenol, sulfanilic' acid andformaldehyde. The clear solution shows ning as after standing for 2-3 weeks inan open vessel (1.5 seconds for dense cotton fabric or yarn) 7 Example 3 1.4 vol. (1.1 weight of a mixture of 30% 1 of isopropy1phenol,-10% of isothymol and 60% of a condensation product of sulfanilic acid, cresol I (German Pharmacopoeia, 6th edition) and form- I utes to, foam'is decreased to about 35% of the aldehyde,-dissolvedin a solution of sodium hythe same unchanged wetting effect in the begin-:

droxide of 32 B., cause excellent and constant Wetting and shrinking effect (1.5-2. seconds).

The volume of the foam consisting of large hubbles which is obtained on strongly shaking the mixture for 10 seconds amounts to about70-80% of the usedvolume of the liquid; after 1 minvolume of the liquid. I I I Sucha, wetting agentmay also contain other additions, such as, for instance, ethereal oils, i.'e.,

terpineol, aromatic hydrocarbons, i. e., xylene, or

Ezramplee Q I I 1 1 I 1.0 weight of a mixture of 70% of isothymol and 30% of cresol (German Pharmacopoeia, 6th I edition), dissolved in a solution of sodium hydroxide of,28 B.,.Sh0WS excellent wetting effects similar to those shown by the preceding a phenol.

I I preparations and only little foam formation.

ing compositionr m fii A mercerizing wetting agent with the same propertiesas those of Example 4 has the follow- I I I I Grs.

I I I I Isopropylphenol 66.0.

I I Cresol. (German Pharmacopoeia, 4th edition) 34.0

The following table indicates the time in seconds, which is necessary for causing complete wetting with the wetting agents according to this invention, whereby mixtures of alkylated phenols with cresol (German Pharmacopoeia, 4th edition) are used as wetting agen-tand solutions of so dium hydroxide of 28 B. as mercerisation lye;

Proportions of Wetting Alkylated phenol alliylstfd time in 355 p eno seconds cresol to lsoptopyl phcnol 2:1 2,0 1.4 Isopr'opyl phenol dist 2:1 3. U 1.4 IsopropylphcnoL. I 4:1 2.0 1.4 D0 1. Without 2.0 0. 7

cresol Isopropyl crcsol. 2:1 2. 5 1.4 Isopropyl p-crosol 2:1 I 2.0 1.4 IsothyrnoL. 2'21 1. 5 l, 4 Thyniol I 2:1 About 1. 4 Creso] H About 60 I I. 4

WhatI'claimisf 1. A mercerizing wetting agent, comprising an isopropylated phenol and a condensation prod not of an aminoarylsulfonic andaphenol.

' Y I '2. ,A, mercerizing wetting agent, comprising an isopropylated phenol, a, condensation product of. I

an aminoarylsulfonic :acid, an aldehyde and a, phenol, and a member of the group consisting of phenol and cresol.

3. A process for improving vegetable textile fibers, comprising treating said fibers with a mercerizing lye of causticalkali' containing: anisopropylated phenol, and ,a condensation product of anaminoarylsulfonic acid, an aldehyde and a 4. A process for improving Vegetable "textile fibers, comprising treating said fibers with a mer I and a condensation product of an aminoarylsul cerizing lye of caustic alkali containing isothymol fonic acid, an aldehyde and a. phenol.

5 A mercerizing wetting agent comprising. a

mixture of, isothymol and the condensation product of an amino-aryl-sulfonic acid, an aldehyde and a phenol. I

6. A mercerizing wetting agent comprising a ,-mixture of isothymol, a member of the group acid, an aldehyde I 

